About

$10,145

pledged of $10,000 goal

266

backers

Explore a constellation of urban arts and discover the city in a new light.

Northern Spark is a free, dusk to dawn, participatory arts festival that presents visual arts, performance, films, and interactive media indoors and outdoors in both Minneapolis and St. Paul. In 2011, during the course of one night, there were 50,000 visits to 100 projects by more than 200 artists at 34 venues in collaboration with 60 partner organizations and sponsors.

At its core, Northern Spark is about supporting artists to reinterpret the city through art and creative interventions.

We need your help to support the artists who make Northern Spark happen.

Funding from our Kickstarter campaign will go to support artist projects from our Open Calls.

Here are just a few of the comments by participants last year.

"How often do you get a chance to be on a bridge with 10,000 people to see an experimental community band, draw under the stars and wander through a gallery at 3 am all in the same night."

"The best part was that so many people were out and experienced NS. Some people lived in the Twin Cities, some came in from the suburbs; some came specifically for the event, some just happened upon it in the course of their evening. There was a great cross-section of the population out exploring the Cities."

"It was amazing to see so many people out in so many different locations and so early into the morning! It was magical to be immersed within Jim Campbell’s Scattered Light and to see the moving images from a distance. Like orchestrated fireflies!"

"Aside from all of the fabulous works of art (there were so many, I couldn’t possibly pick a favorite nor could I have seen everything that was going on) and creative opportunities to explore the Twin Cities, what stands out in my mind as being the most memorable part of the event is the variety of people that turned up to experience Northern Spark. A friend of mine commented that she expected to see the “usual art-nerd” suspects out and about. We realized together that there were many people out who may have never participated in a community art event before. What a great way to expose the entire community to the arts! "

"I would say the entire night had its amazing moments that are impossible to choose between — the utter chaos of capture the flag at Loring Park, catching the sunrise at the Foshay Tower, running into a bunch of friends at Stone Arch Bridge, the entire night was a blast! "

"Art is everywhere. The night of Northern Spark transforms your consciousness. Yes, you read the brochure and move from installation to installation, but you’re also always on the lookout for what might be new or different. Suddenly, everything becomes art: the lights under the 35W bridge; couples stealing a kiss under an archway; even the spaces themselves which you had previously never considered as anything other than no-man’s-land. The next morning, the sensation continues, and your senses are heightened for hours."

All arts. All night. All people.

Rewards

The majority of our rewards are artworks created by Northern Spark artists, related to their projects for the Festival. Be an art collector, support Northern Spark!

David Rueter, Kuramoto Model (1,000 Fireflies),custom, auto-synchronizing LED bike light. (Pictured: prototype LED bike lights). /The devices are outfitted with simple electronics that allow them to synchronize with others, so that all nearby devices automatically and mutually engage in an observable process of synchronization. These devices, in isolation, will appear to be no different from conventional LED cycling safety lights, but in groups will exhibit an immediately noticeable and striking phenomenon. The aim of the project is to activate and transform the social networks and urban dynamics associated with cycling by fusing this system with one biased towards synchronization -- an outward display of unity through cooperative display, perception and adjustment. $10; available only at Northern Spark or with additional shipping fee.

Support

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Pledge US$ 5 or more
About US$ 5

Were you one of the thousands of people who enjoyed Northern Spark last year? Are you planning to join us this year? Everyone who supports Northern Spark will have their name posted on a monumental "backer wall" projection at a key venue. Even $5 helps show your support.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge US$ 10 or more
About US$ 10

Amanda Lovelee, Choose 1 of 4 books by Amanda Lovelee: "Honor your Partner Honor your Neighbor," "Walking Side by Side," ""Home you are and Home you be," All Jump Up and Never Come Down" ; handmade books from the Call and Answer project.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge US$ 10 or more
About US$ 10

Custom, auto-synchronizing bike light. The devices are outfitted with simple electronics that allow them to synchronize with others, so that all nearby devices automatically and mutually engage in an observable process of synchronization. These devices, in isolation, will appear to be no different from conventional LED cycling safety lights, but in groups will exhibit an immediately noticeable and striking phenomenon.
For pick up at Northern Spark ($10 extra to be shipped).

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge US$ 25 or more
About US$ 25

Amanda Lovelee, set of 4: "Honor your Partner Honor your Neighbor," "Walking Side by Side," ""Home you are and Home you be," All Jump Up and Never Come Down" ; handmade books from the Call and Answer project.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge US$ 30 or more
About US$ 30

Wing Young Huie, "Wing's Ping Pong Retrospective, West Bank, Minneapolis, 2011." 8 x 10 color photograph. "The event started at 9 pm and we didn’t have an open table until 2:30 am and the last players finally left at 6:30 am!"

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge US$ 250 or more
About US$ 250

Light up the night, every night. Take home a light bulb plucked from Jim Campbell's beloved work "Scattered Light." Each bulb is a self-contained working pixel that blinks according to its pixel location in the original installation.

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Pledge US$ 1,000 or more
About US$ 1,000

Ali Momeni, "Before I Die." The sculpture visualizes Kaaba, the most sacred site of Islam in Mecca, and its surrounding terrain. A green bow-tied piece of yarn, alluding to the symbol of the opposition to the 2010 Iranian Presidential elections, marks the exact location of Kaaba.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge US$ 1,500 or more
About US$ 1,500

Rasun Mehringer, "Imagining Northern Spark," maquette. This cardboard rendering of Mpls and St. Paul complete with a Grain Belt bottle cap, with some Photoshop magic, became the iconic image of Northern Spark 2011.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge US$ 5,000 or more
About US$ 5,000

A dinner party for 6-10 people of gourmet "home style" foraged, invasive, and exotic species that redefine the local. By artist Marina Zurkow and friends. Will include limited edition art work, wine, and information. Local only.